How to Drive Steel Sheet Piles
American
Piledriving
Equipment, Inc.
APE Pile Driving School

What Is a Steel Sheet Pile?
Sheets of Steel plates that interconnect.

Examples

Examples

Example

Examples

What Do They Look Like?

Various Types at a Glance

Job Examples

Sheet Pile
Terminology:
Section Data: Name
Section Name: Manufacturer’s
Designation to identify the section. Example: PZ-27
PZ-27 means Z-Shaped with
27 pounds Per square foot.

Job Examples

Sheet Pile
Terminology: Producer and Country of Origin
Arbed PU
Germany, England, Japan,
USA, Korea, Luxemburg, Etc.

Sheet Pile Terminology:
Shape: 4 Basic Types
1. Z-type (Z)
Arbed PU
PZ-22 PZ-27 PZ-35 PZ-40
Used for Intermediate to Deep Wall
Construction

Sheet Pile Terminology:
Shape: 4 Basic Types
2. U-type (U)
Used For Applications Similar to
Z-Piles

Sheet Pile Terminology:
Shape: 4 Basic Types
3. Flat Sheets (F)
Used to form Cellular
Cofferdams

Flat Sheets

Circular cofferdams

Examples

Sheet Pile Terminology:
Shape: 4 Basic Types
4. Arch (A)
Used For Shallower Wall Construction. Also
Comes in Light Weights or Gauges.

One Sheet
Description
Interlock area
Two Z Shaped Steel Sheet Piles
Interlocked together to form a
“pair” or “double sheet”.

Types of Steel Sheet Piles:
Trench Shoring HOESH
Note: No interlocks

Types of Interlocks
PZ-27
Ball and Socket Type
Positive Points:
• Easy to thread. Hangs up less.
• Pile Crews Desire This Type of Interlock
• Super Rugged Interlock
• Great for Repeated Use.
• Easy to Drive because Interlock displaces less soil

Types of Interlocks
Double Jaw
Positive Points:
• Proven Track Record
• Tight interlocks-Less Seepage
• Strong for repeated use.
• Good in Hard Driving Situations
• Small profile Interlocks
Single Jaw
• Negative:
• Less Swing
• Hangs up more
• Holds up good but not as good as the ball and socket type interlock.

Types of Interlocks
Double Hook
Positive Points:
Negative:
Proven Track Record
Limited Swing

Types of Interlocks
Cold Rolled Hook and Grip
•Avoid if hard driving
•Avoid if sealing out water

Types of Interlocks
Thumb and Finger- Three Point Contact
Thumb and Finger Interlock is Used on
Flat Sheet Piles. Interlock is rated by
Tension Strength. Used for Cofferdams.

Types of Interlocks
Thumb and Finger- One Point Contact

Reading Sheet Pile Dimensions:
Section Area
Cross-sectional area is listed as square inches per foot of wall.
Areas shown for flat piling are based on the single section only.

Reading Sheet Pile Dimensions:
Nominal Width
Centerline from Interlock to Interlock

Reading Sheet Pile Dimensions:
Weight
Weight of Square Foot of Wall

Reading Sheet Pile Dimensions:
Wall Depth
Distance between outboard and inboard Faces

Reading Sheet Pile Dimensions:
Wall Web and Flange
Flange
Web Flange
Web

Reading Sheet Pile Dimensions:
Moment of Inertia
Reference Axis
Neutral axis of wall
Product of cross-sectional area and squared distance from a reference axis

Reading Sheet Pile Dimensions:
Section Modulus

What to Consider Beyond
Section Modulus and Moment of
Inertia.
Choosing The Right Sheet Pile for The Job Based on Driving
Conditions and Dewatering
Requirements.

Understanding the Difference Between
Hot Rolled and Cold Formed.

Sheet Pile Terminology:
Hot Rolled (HR)

Hot Rolled Steel Sheets
Good Points:
•Proven track record since early 1900’s
•Tight interlock for good water seal
•Proven procedures to reduce seepage based on 100 years of data
•Less interlock slop reduces tendency to lean and reduces template criteria
•Strong interlock for hard driving
•Can be made with thick (up to ¾ inch) wall for super hard driving
•Web layout superior to cold formed (for hammer energy transfer)
•More elastic at angle area (cold forming process reduces elasticity)
•Excellent for reuse due to strong interlocks
•Available for rent and rental/purchase

Hot Rolled Steel Sheets
Bad Points:
•Costs more than cold formed
•Restricted lengths 25 feet to 60’
•Lengths restricted to 5’ intervals
•Special lengths are special order
•May weigh more per foot of wall
•May not be necessary in super soft soils

Cold Formed
Steel Sheet Piles Are:
Cold Formed From Steel
Sheet Rolls Called Scalp or
Coils

Cold Formed Steel Sheets
Good Points:
•Much Cheaper to make than hot rolled
•Can get cut to any length and quantity
•Fast delivery and production
•15 to 20 different shapes & thick nesses
•Good for soft driving but requires careful alignment
•Greater swing than hot rolled allows greater curves

Cold Formed Steel Sheets
Bad Points:
•Weak interlocks
•Cold formed sheet interlocks much larger than hot- harder to clamp*
•Sloppy interlocks get jammed easy from soil entering
•Seepage problems
•Brittle at bent areas due to dynamic loading when cold formed
•Interlocks fail in hard soils or when striking obstacles
•Web is longer. Vibratory hammers will rip out tops
•Not good for jobs where sheets must be reused several times
•Not available for rent because interlock failures
•Requires more attention when driving

Jaws on Cold Formed Interlocks

Interlock Jamming
Hot rolled sheets have tighter tolerances that keep larger particles out. Large particles cause hitch hiking of the sheets. Hitch hiking

Dynamic Loading
Bending during cold forming loads areas.

Driving Methods-
Easy Driving-pitch and Drive
• Soft Driving
• No obstacles
• Short Piles
• Smart crew
• Good sheets
• Light Vibro

Examples-
Soft Soils, Short Sheets
Pitch and drive

Driving Methods
Use at Least a Four Foot Level
Use a String Bob

Driving Methods-other than soft
1
2
Two templates or more. Upper and
Lower.

Example of Double Templates
Upper template should be substantial fraction of the pile length.

Driving Methods
Gaining or Loosing

Driving Methods-
Leaning
Stop!
Take Corrective Action.

Methods-leaning Corrections

Impact Hammers
Things to consider:
• Heavy ram, shorter stroke
• Ram weight should be 1.5 to 2 times the combined pile and cap weight
• Diesel hammer may be best choice
• Leader mounted
• Good drive cap to pile fit
• Drive in shorter steps

Impact Hammers-drive Caps

Diesel Hammer

Understanding
Vibros
Suppressor
Gearbox
Clamp Device

Vibro Suppressorrubber Springs
Isolates vibro action from crane line.

Vibro of Rotating Eccentrics
Paired
Eccentrics

Eccentric

Four Strokes of the Eccentric
1 work
Forces the vibro and the casing downward
2
3 work
Nothing happens. Each eccentric cancels other out.
Both eccentrics for vibro and casing upward
4
Nothing happens. Each eccentric cancels other out.

Vibro-Driver/Extractors
Eccentric moment
Center of rotation
Center of gravity
Eccentric moment = distance between the center of rotation and the center of gravity x the total mass of the eccentric.

Example of calculating eccentric moment of one eccentric:
Equation:
Distance between
Center of Rotation and
Center of Gravity
Multiplied by
The Mass
Mass: 500 lbs.
2 times 500 equals: 1,000 inch pounds
2 inches

Eccentric moment of a vibro is measurement of all eccentrics combined.
1,000 in-lbs 1,000 in-lbs equals: 2,000 in-lbs.
If each eccentric has 1,000 in-lbs then the vibro has a total of
2,000 in-lbs.

Some vibros Have Many Small Eccentrics to
Get a Large Total Inch Pounds While Others
Have Less Eccentrics That Are Bigger.
More vibrating weight Less vibrating weight
Less amplitude More amplitude

Smaller Weights Means More
Bearings, Shafts, Gears.
More parts Less parts

Amplitude
A = 2 x Mt Mt = Eccentric Moment in inch pounds
Mv = Total Vibrating Weight
Mv
Vibrating weight: Mv
A = Amplitude in inches
Suppressor does not vibrate.
Non-vibrating mass.
The vibrating weight is the sum of all the weights of the vibrating mass.
B: Dynamic weight (vibrating mass)
C:
D:
Clamping device including all plates or clamps
Pile weight vibrating mass

Amplitude
4000 in-lb.
Vibrating mass: 6500 lb Vibrating mass: 5000 lb
The hammer on the left has the same eccentric moment but less amplitude because the vibrating mass is heavier.

Amplitude
4000 in-lbs.
Amplitude will decrease with increase of pile weight.
Big piles need bigger vibros to offset loss of amplitude.

Amplitude
Amplitude will decrease with increase of:
• Pile weight
• Soil resistance
• Weights, gears, shafts, hoses, motors
• Extra clamp attachments
• Anything that increases vibrating mass.
Amplitude =
2 x EM
VM
EM: Eccentric Moment
VM: Vibrating Mass

VPM CPM
Frequency
(Vibrations Per Minute) or (Cycles Per Minute)
Frequency is the rotational speed of the vibro eccentrics.

Drive Force (Dynamic Force)
Drive Force =
(Cycles per minute)
Eccentric Moment x 0.142 x Frequency squared
1,000,000
Example:
Moment: 4400 in-lb.
Frequency: 1600 Cycles per minute
4400 x 0.0142 x 1600x1600
1,000,000
= 159.94 Tons
Drive Force

How Frequency Matters
1100 cpm 1600 cpm
4000 in-lb.
4400 x 0.0142 x 1100x1100
= 75 tons 159.94 =
1,000,000
4400 x 0.0142 x 1600x1600
1,000,000

Higher Frequency Dramatically Increases Drive Force
Because Frequency is squared.
1100 cpm 1600 cpm
5208 in-lbs 4400 in-lbs
5208 x 0.0142 x 1100x1100
= 89 tons 159.94 =
1,000,000
4400 x 0.0142 x 1600x1600
1,000,000

Vibro Jaws
Moveable
Jaw
Fixed
Jaw

Vibro Clampsbasic Rules
•Wait for hammer to come to speed
•Clamp in center
•Clamp always in line with pile axis
•Avoid clamping on interlocks
•All of teeth in work
•Watch jaws and interlocks for heat
•Do not pull or drive vibro until speed is reached
•Do not open until vibro stops moving
•Melting interlocks means jaws are also taking a beating

Jaws-watch the Interlocks
Do Not Crush Interlocks
Special deeper Jaws

Model 400 on Sheets
Hard
Driving
Required
The
Use
Of
Super
Vibro.
Sheet piles for Air Force missile silos.

Pile Buck Tools for Driving
Sheets
This tool holds leading sheet pile to lower guide.

Stab Cat